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Hancock County (Ill.)

 Organization

Biography

Hancock County, Illinois, was originally part of a military tract designated by Congress as a reward for veterans of the War of 1812. Settlement of the area was delayed due to concerns about conflicts with its indigenous peoples, but proceeded after the Blackhawk War in 1832.

The county was officially formed on January 23, 1825, out of Pike County. It was named for John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 1833, the state commissioned the formation of the county seat at Carthage. Its original courthouse, a log cabin that later became a school, was built in Montebello (near Nauvoo, but no longer existing) and used until 1839. The second courthouse, which was in use until 1906, was the location from which Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln gave campaign speeches while running for the U.S. Senate in 1858. The current courthouse, which was rebuilt on the same spot, was dedicated in 1908.

Hancock County is home to the city of Nauvoo, which in the 1840s was the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and one of Illinois' most populated cities. The Church's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., was killed at Carthage Jail in 1844, after which most Church members left the area. It continues to be a site of vacation and religious pilgrimage for Church members today.

Citation:
found: GeoNames, algorithmically matched, 2009(adm2; 40°31ʹ00ʺN 091°09ʹ01ʺW) Wikipedia, February 3, 2023 (originally part of military tract designated by Congress as reward for veterans of War of 1812; settlement delayed, concerns about conflicts with indigenous peoples, proceeded after Blackhawk War in 1832; county officially formed January 23, 1825, out of Pike County; named for John Hancock, signer of Declaration of Independence; 1833, state commissioned formation of county seat at Carthage; original courthouse, log cabin that later became school, built in Montebello: near Nauvoo, no longer exists; used until 1839; second courthouse in use until 1906; location Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln gave campaign speeches while running for U.S. Senate, 1858; current courthouse rebuilt on same spot, dedicated 1908; County is home to city Nauvoo: in 1840s, was headquarters of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and one of Illinois' most populated cities; Church's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., killed in Carthage in 1844, most Church members left area; still site of vacation and religious pilgrimage for Church members today)

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Hancock County (Ill.) and Portage County (Ohio) legal documents

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 4054
Abstract

Hancock and Portage County legal documents, 1826-1910, contains two archival series: (1) Hancock County documents, 1838-1844, and (2) Portage County documents, 1826-1910. The documents include affidavits, deeds, summons, and filings.

Dates: 1826-1910

Hancock County (Ill.) documents, 1838-1844

 Series
Identifier: MSS 4054 Series 1
Scope and Contents note

This series contains affidavits, summons and filings.

Dates: Other: 1838-1844

Portage County (Ohio) documents, 1826-1910

 Series
Identifier: MSS 4054 Series 2
Scope and Contents note

This series contains quit-claim, warranty, and mortgage deeds, filings, summons, and miscellaneous items.

Dates: Other: 1826-1910

Filtered By

  • Subject: Courts -- Illinois -- Hancock County -- History X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 2
Collection 1